Jason Kidd Close To Becoming Nets Coach?

share

Sports

By: Evan Schwartz/ June 13, 2013

The Brooklyn Nets on the verge of a big coaching change.

The team is reportedly close to naming the newly retired Jason Kidd as head coach, according to ESPN. Kidd hung up his sneakers earlier this month after 19 seasons in the NBA, including seven seasons with the Nets franchise.

It would make sense for Kidd to make the transition from player to coach, but doing it without any prior experience is both a testament to the respect he receives around the NBA and the desperation the Nets have in making a big splash. After flaming out in the playoffs, the team is clearly looking for someone who will mesh better with the players, and a former player like Kidd might be a great fit.

The move is contingent on Kidd bringing some coaches with head coaching experience to his staff, and one such name might be former Nets coach Lawrence Frank, who worked with Kidd in New Jersey. Kidd is also very close with Nets star Deron Williams, and bringing in a ‘players coach’ may be the kind of change necessary for a team laden with stars and big contracts.

Jason Kidd would be about as close to a player-coach as the NBA has had since Dave Cowens ran the Boston Celtics briefly in 1970.